CAMERON DEVLIN’S first season in Scotland ultimately ended in disappointment but the Australian midfielder is confident that better times are just around the corner.
The Hearts midfielder was seemingly everywhere on Saturday afternoon as he harried after the Rangers players, tirelessly bounding after them and robbing them of the ball with a well-timed challenge. In the end it wasn’t enough as a thunderbolt from Ryan Jack and a well-executed counter-attack that was finished off by Scott Wright sealed the win for the Ibrox club.
As Devlin reflects on the campaign as a whole, the diminutive midfielder does so with a justified sense of pride. He has been a fine addition to Robbie Neilson’s side since arriving from Newcastle Jets in his homeland and although the team came up short in the Scottish Cup final, the 23-year-old believes there are reasons to be cheerful ahead of the new campaign.
He explained: “I’m so proud of the boys, we came as underdogs. I know Rangers had a big game a few days ago but we focused on ourselves and to take them to extra-tie and go so close is really heart-breaking.
“But you’ve got to move on, we’ll enjoy our summer and come back next season stronger.
“[The final] was everything I expected and more. For me personally, I’ve said so many times a young Aussie coming over from the other side of the world, making a Scottish Cup final is something I never thought about when I was coming over.
“To do that in front of my mum and dad was really special for me personally. It would have been extra special to win but it was an unreal experience, our fans were outstanding, they sold out their half of the stadium which we’re so happy and grateful for. Unfortunately we just couldn’t do it for them.
“The target for us as a team was to make the Scottish Cup final, win the final, get in the top three in the league and get into Europe. We’ve done two out of three.
“We’ll enjoy our summer, come back stronger. We’ll have some new players, some players will go unfortunately. But we’ve got big games to look forward to and that’s so exciting for us.”
Devlin’s midfield partner at Hampden, Peter Haring, is one such player who might move on this summer. The Austrian has been offered new terms to extend his stay in the capital and could well stay put but there is another whose departure has already been confirmed.
John Souttar, the Scotland internationalist, was at his best against Rangers on Saturday and the performance showed why the Premiership runners-up were so keen to sign him. He greedily hoovered up cross after cross swung into the box and although the afternoon ended in defeat, the centre-half was his team’s standout player.
Devlin accepts that Souttar will be a big loss and says the defender’s presence in Gorgie will be missed. As a leader in the changing room, the 25-year-old leaves big shoes to fill but Devlin couldn’t be happier for his team-mate, particularly given injury troubles in the past.
“From the day I got here he’s taken me under his wing,” Devlin said. “Even though half the time he’s screaming at me because I’m maybe doing not what he wants me to do!
“But I don’t mind that as a player. We always chat behind the scenes and he’s only trying to make me a better player and show me his experiences.
“I couldn’t wish him more [luck] going to Rangers. I couldn’t be more grateful to share a pitch with him. He’s a unreal guy, an unreal player and he’s got a massive future. I wish him nothing but the best. He’s such a great guy and he’s been unreal to me.
“[Souttar’s recovery from injury] is a credit to him. I wasn’t here when he was injured but I’ve heard all about it. He had a few years out. It’s not easy being out for two or three months which I was.
“It’s a credit to him. I’m not surprised because I see him in the gym working harder than anyone. He was one of the guys who hadn’t played for so long and he came back.
“Maybe if it was a normal league game he wouldn’t have played so it shows how much Hearts mean to him and how much as a group is tight knit.
“For him to play like that is super special but I’m not surprised. He’s such a good player.”
Another of Devlin’s colleagues, Nathan Atkinson, found himself on the receiving end of a few painful-looking challenges at the weekend but the midfielder is confident his compatriot will shake them off in time to join up with the Australia squad next month.
Devlin hopes that he can follow in Atkinson’s footsteps and gain international recognition – something, the midfielder adds, that should be helped by Hearts’ forays into Europe next season.
“It is what it is,” Devlin said of the rough treatment that was dished out to Atkinson. “I think he only has one groin at the moment and is hanging on! But he stuck in for 120 minutes and he has been unreal since he came in January. I’m so proud of him and he is a great friend of mine.
“Yeah [he’ll be fit for Australia]. He will have a teaspoon of cement and he will toughen up! He will be fine. You can’t say no to getting a call up.
“The Socceroos squad has definitely on my mind for a while now. Getting injured for 10 or so weeks doesn’t help the cause but I will keep working hard for Hearts. With hard work and how I apply myself I’m sure I will get my call up. Doing well for Hearts is the only way I’m going to make it.
“Now I have a few weeks off I will reflect and look back. A Scottish Cup Final, finishing third and getting Europe to look forward to. I’m super proud of the team and I’m so lucky to be at this football club. I’m so proud to be a Hearts player. Hopefully we can just take that extra step next year.”
